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Mental health nurse vs mental health specialist

The differences between mental health nurses and mental health specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a mental health nurse, becoming a mental health specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a mental health nurse has an average salary of $106,812, which is higher than the $47,321 average annual salary of a mental health specialist.

The top three skills for a mental health nurse include patients, psychiatric mental and PMHNP. The most important skills for a mental health specialist are patients, social work, and rehabilitation.

Mental health nurse vs mental health specialist overview

Mental Health NurseMental Health Specialist
Yearly salary$106,812$47,321
Hourly rate$51.35$22.75
Growth rate6%9%
Number of jobs86,884131,449
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4445
Years of experience24

What does a mental health nurse do?

A mental health nurse is responsible for assisting with the diagnosis and treatment plans of patients with mental health complications. Mental health nurses handle high-quality nursing care under mental health professionals' supervision within a hospital or mental health institution. They support in performing therapeutic activities, administering medical examinations, and counseling patients to know more about their conditions. A mental health nurse also does administrative tasks as needed, such as organizing and updating patients' information on the database, processing treatment payments, and responding to the family's inquiries and concerns.

What does a mental health specialist do?

A mental health specialist is responsible for evaluating a patient's mental health condition and develop appropriate treatment plans to help the patients cope up with their mental difficulties. Mental health specialists provide counseling to the patients, listening to their situation, and responding with the utmost consideration. They also create regular progress reports and medical charts to monitor ongoing medication, updating treatment plans as needed. A mental health specialist must have excellent communication and organization skills, helping the patients deal with their mental stress and return to a healthy lifestyle.

Mental health nurse vs mental health specialist salary

Mental health nurses and mental health specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Mental Health NurseMental Health Specialist
Average salary$106,812$47,321
Salary rangeBetween $62,000 And $182,000Between $31,000 And $71,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyCommunity Health SystemsResearch Foundation For Mental Hygiene Inc
Best paying industryGovernmentGovernment

Differences between mental health nurse and mental health specialist education

There are a few differences between a mental health nurse and a mental health specialist in terms of educational background:

Mental Health NurseMental Health Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorNursingPsychology
Most common collegeDuke UniversityCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Mental health nurse vs mental health specialist demographics

Here are the differences between mental health nurses' and mental health specialists' demographics:

Mental Health NurseMental Health Specialist
Average age4445
Gender ratioMale, 16.9% Female, 83.1%Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 9.1% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage9%15%

Differences between mental health nurse and mental health specialist duties and responsibilities

Mental health nurse example responsibilities.

  • Interact with patients, coordinate and successfully manage therapeutic group activities with unit staffs under supervision of clinical instructor.
  • Provide psychiatric evaluation, medication management and education for patients with serious and persistent mental illness and debilitating personality disorders.
  • Provide transportation, medication management, daily ADL's, housekeeping, and feeding.
  • Provide hourly room checks and ADL's according to care plan implement by the attending physician.
  • Initiate emergency resuscitative measures according to adult resuscitation protocols.
  • Perform case management for outpatient veterans that include psychiatric treatment.
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Mental health specialist example responsibilities.

  • Provide individualize intervention for problematic behaviors using TCI techniques such as de-escalation, to prevent and/or manage crisis.
  • Assist and encourage patients with ADL's including feeding, ambulating, and hygiene to promote patient care.
  • Utilize rehabilitation principles to support individuals, families and communities in developing effective strategies to improve client mental health functioning.
  • Provide psychological care to patients in an in-patient psych unit, including facilitating group activities, crisis intervention, implementing therapeutic approaches
  • Meet physical requirements to complete SAMA and CPR training.
  • Provide kindness and compassion to the deceased and their families.
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Mental health nurse vs mental health specialist skills

Common mental health nurse skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • Psychiatric Mental, 10%
  • PMHNP, 6%
  • Medication Management, 6%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Crisis Intervention, 4%
Common mental health specialist skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • Social Work, 11%
  • Rehabilitation, 6%
  • Mental Health, 5%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Vital Signs, 4%

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